SOUTH BEND, Ind. - It was an exciting day at the ballpark for those who braved some less-than-ideal weather on Wednesday.

The South Bend Cubs began their final homestand of the regular season, and did so in front of former President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.

“It’s something we wanted to extend because it’s something great they’re doing for our community,” Cubs president Joe Hart said of the couple’s local work with Habitat for Humanity. “Tonight’s a night for him and his wife to come out and just relax.”

The Carters were put up in the owner’s suite and were recognized in the second inning.

But even outside the Cubs organization, the South Bend-Mishawaka Community as a whole has shown its appreciation for the carter project’s work on a couple dozen homes in a local subdivision.

As for the Cubs, the presidential visit serves as a fitting wrap to an eventful 2018 regular season, which comes to a close next week.

“Earlier today, I was reflecting on the season and all the things that happened. You have Yu Darvish and tonight we have President Carter. There’s just so many things that happened. It’s such an exciting thing and it’s a new wrinkle for us as part of what we do as a baseball organization. It’s fun to share with the community.”

The Cubs topped the Bowling Green Hot Rods 8-1 in the first of a 3-game series.